Experiences and perspectives of victims and survivors of torture - evidence from the Ambassadors for Change to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
We, the Ambassadors for Change, are survivors of torture, trafficking and persecution who have come to the UK in search of safety. Each of us carries scars — physical, emotional and psychological — from the violence we endured and from the long, punishing asylum process. Some of us are still waiting for decisions, some of us have refugee status, but we are united by survival and by the determination to speak out.
We refuse to stay silent. We are not only victims of torture and trafficking — we are leaders, advocates and community organisers. Together we use our voices and experiences to fight for justice, dignity and protection for all people seeking asylum. We know what it means to be dehumanised and silenced, and we stand in solidarity with others still trapped in danger or waiting to be reunited with their families. We will not stop until survivors everywhere can rebuild their lives in safety and without fear.
Torture fundamentally changes everything to survivors: “you are not the same person after you experience torture.” Externally, some of us carry lasting injuries and disabilities, we have to move and leave behind everything familiar to us. Internally, we experience trauma, anxiety, depression, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, avoidance and a sense of hopelessness. These effects limit our ability to study, work, learn new skills, and to participate in everyday social life. Living day-to-day “but not alive,” with a loss of trust in others and in institutions. For us, “there is never an ‘I’ but always ‘WE’”: when one member is harmed, the whole family is affected. We fear for the safety of our families and carry this burden with us for many years.
Ultimately, for survivors justice is being believed and acknowledged. Whilst we value the accountability of perpetrators, justice must include rebuilding safety and dignity. Rehabilitation as an aspect of reparation is explicitly recognised by the UN Convention against Torture (CAT) which says that states must ensure that a victim of torture obtains redress, including the means for as full rehabilitation as possible. This should include all the processes and services needed
for them to rebuild their lives and reduce, as far as possible, the harm that has been suffered. This should include at least physical and psychological services, and social, legal and financial support.
Upholding the rights of survivors of torture can only be achieved if states take a broad, holistic approach that aims to address all factors that worsen mental health. This would include looking at ways to improve the treatment of people seeking asylum and survivors of torture through, for example, better housing and financial support; a more responsive and trauma-informed asylum system that makes quick but fair decisions and an approach that prioritises welcome, integration and the ability to work.